Grey Kangaroo came to offer
a friendly welcome
as I set up camp at Saltwater Creek
I marvelled at his generous proximity
the intimacy of our encounter
Until I turned my back
and he made a beeline for my Esky
Forcing his head right in!
Hey! I yelled
Clapping my hands
I made bold to reclaim my territory
He flinched but then straightened
Chest slightly puffed
All muscle from the waist down
Looked me right in the eye
I held his gaze
Now acutely aware of my vulnerability
A wild stand-off
And some kind of mirror?
Initiation?
I was out of moves
Just standing in my inner power
Wondering if that was enough
He sniffed me out, literally
And then eventually, relented
Edging slowly away
though not before circling my tent
almost ceremonially
It was a quick dinner that night
Breakfast seemed simpler
Until a galley of currawong
took up watch in the trees
all around me
and made off with half my banana
before I, once again,
clapped my hands and yelled 'hey!'
It was a quick breakfast too.
Why must I work so hard
to protect what is mine?
What IS mine?
Arguably I was the intruder
And they were simply asserting
their ancient, inalienable authority.
And perhaps, just perhaps,
they were helping me to feel into mine.
To find and voice the "no"
that honours the power
of my presence here.
And my right to take my place.
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